Fiance recently was given some wild gamecocks...that were up in Greenwood SC. I think they are maybe 6 weeks old. Does anybody, or has anybody...ever raised any? We were going to get domestic chickens,....might still...but, these were free, and healthy. We have 13. Loks like 5 roosters so far, and 3 hens, and don't know the other ones yet.
You will have to keep the roosters separated. Game birds will fight to the death. They are awesome birds, but not easy to keep.. if two adult males get together, it's gonna be ugly. I have never raised wild ones. Good luck!
Hahaha...that's all we have heard. We just gonna sort them out.....and eat the others.....the extra roosters. I have a pressure cooker, and they should be fine with some homemade noodles and some fluffy mashed potatoes.
Some of them bring a high price on these chicken auctions too. There are a number of sites. Not that anything is wrong with eating them, just pointing out some options.
Chicken auctions huh? I have found some websites on them, but we still have to see what they turn out like when they reach maturity. We have 2 chicken tractors so far.
If they bring a high price, they will probably be used for fighting. I'd put them on the table before I'd sell them for fighting.. Just seems natural that way. Makes some awesome bone broth!! :)
Didn't think of that Z. Didn't think of that aspect of it at all. I don't approve of fighting birds either.
Well, I sure wouldn't auction them if they are just going to be used in cockfights. That's just plain cruel. I wasn't sure what other reasons people had to buy them...as you just don't hear about them being grown for egg and meat consumption.
They seem to be quite friendly and inquisitive, now that they have settled down and adjusted to their new surroundings.
For attitude towards humans? I think they are great! I really like them.
I'm in an area that they wouldn't even make it to an auction, they would be stolen long before that if anyone saw them. Some of the Thai birds are kept at storage facilities in hiding! They are a hot commodity here.
LFJ That is a good thing. :) (that you didn't think of that)
On ebay the eggs bring a hefty price.... you are obliged to advertise that they are not for fighting, but if you read the descriptions, it's obvious they are.. (Not all sellers though)
Isnt it funny how we grew up with our grandmothers wanting those game hens for broody Hens!! I never even knew that people fought chickens back then! All I knew as a child, is that the silly little things could fly way high into a tree and hide if need be.......alot of times from me!! LOL!
I was looking for the "like" button.. LOL
:)
Yep, you must be on fb. I try to "like" posts here too sometimes.
I have some bantam game and half game hens. They are the broodiest little things. One got by me, so I left her with her eggs. Now I have to decide whether to let her try to raise them on her own, or build a place to confine them. Don't think I'll mess with her, but I will try to give them a safe place to hang out.
I got rid of all my game fowl but one hen. She is a great broody and she keeps peace in the pen. She is also a high dollar hen that was brought to the states from Hawaii. She is a William McCrea Roundhead. They are hard to get. They are primarily used for knife fighting which is gruesome. Chicken fightimg as not a sport. While it is true you cannot make a rooster fight, as a superior being we should have sense enough to keep them apart if they won't do it themselves. And game cocks will not quit fighting on their own. I had a young roo I tried to let free range. He fought constantly and was not good at it. He was beaten down numerous times and I nursed him back to health in the house. He was very personable and a beautiful bird. I finally had to put him down when another roo blinded him. I have pics but don't think anybody wants to see them.
They can be raised responsibly for egg production but I would caution keeping the roo in with the hens. If you have to deal with the hens he will try to protect them and he will not hesitate to spur you.
Have fun with them. They are without a doubt the most beautiful of all the roos.
Here is a pic of one of the roos I gave away. Got tired of having all those seperate pens.
Well, we had to separate them all Saturday morning. They had reached maturity, and were all showing themselves. The dominant rooster, we gave away.......and I had single caged the one he was after, and the one right under him in the pecking order. The next day, Saturday, the remaining cooped collection had to be separated down again. Now, we have the 2 coops....with 1 rooster in each. The really beat up rooster made a good recovery, so we gave him a coop with hens. The other rooster, who was not as aggressive, we put him in the 2nd coop. That left 4 roosters. 2 of them, we slaughtered for food....then, the propane burner regulator quit working. So the remaining 2 extra roosters, got a 1 week reprieve. I am letting them free range, with water. We have bunches of crickets and bugs for them, lots of shade, and plenty of safe spots. They don't seem to wander far from their nest mates...and constantly harass the cooped roosters. Yes, they are small for food...but, I would rather slaughter them, then have them fight each other.
They make a fine gravy. Sounds like you have a handle on them. Good for you.
Well, this morning, about 4 big dogs attacked our roosters. We had 4 roosters out...2 of them caged, 2 free ranging, because we were going to slaughter 2 this morning. We hadn't seen the dogs back since we had first got the chickens home. And we have had no trouble with the neighborhood dogs. We think these dogs are from down the road a bit.
Anyway, I had only given the 2 caged roosters fresh water yesterday...no food. The free ranging ones, had food. The dogs went after all 4 roosters, at 4:30 this morning.
As I saw it, none had clipped wings, they are all wild game cocks, and should be able to escape if possible. One of the formerly caged ones came back after sun-up.....looking for feed. It has a slight limp, and missing a few wing feathers, but otherwise, in good shape. Of the others, I found one leg.....no rooster attached. So, out of the 7 roosters...we have 2 in the freezer, one alive, one given away, and 3 ...dog bait. We'll see what happens with the remaining 6 hens and the surviving rooster.
Did you get a shot at the dogs?
I'm so sorry to hear that! Even if you were going to eat them, it's still sad when they get mauled.
Dogs don't usually eat them.. they just toss em around and kill them... leave em lay. Sounds like fox or coyote maybe? I don't know what's in your area. I watched a young husky killing my broody and babiez.. it had such a "lost" look on it's face when they quit running... so obvious it was only playing. I was yelling feverishly, and it was bouncing around wagging it's tail....
No, it was dogs. Faince thought he had run them off...but as it was 430 am, and the sun wasn't up. It is dark here. We have no yard light, no street lights, and the carport/breeze way lights can only be turned on from the garage. We have ran the 2 black labs off before. 1 yr old labs, an older smaller brown dog, and another one. Funny thing is, we had let "mean ass" rooster free range all week, as well as the other 2. Nothing bothered them, till I had to segregate them all on Friday. I think the dogs are just locals, and we are on their morning run is all.
My dog has killed and eaten two of my chickens. Nothing left except a few feathers.
My guard dog will "play" with them until they quit moving. I had it with him the last time and decided to take him to the pound but DH wanted him to stay because the coyotes come around in late fall and winter.
Well.. it sure doesn't help that they are bird dogs... They are just doing what they think they are supposed to.. which is sad..
The chickens will not do anything to defend themselves if it is before dawn.. they are easy prey when they are roosting.. They are kinda like sleeping and don't wake up till it's light. That's the best time to do anything like delousing, etc... cause they won't fight to get away. Least that's my thoughts on it... it's how mine act. :)
I agree, for MOST of my chickens. I have one hen that sleeps with one eye open, I think *G*. She has decided that she should sleep on the front porch, where she also has her nest (long story). After seeing a raccoon there one night, I started to bring her inside. She has a hay filled cat carrier in the guest bathroom. However, she does not appreciate my tender care! If I go out for her before full dark, she runs. If I take a flashlight, she runs. If I make too much noise (generally by stubbing my toe in the dark) she runs. So it's an adventure.
And, should I forget to let her out before her buddies get there, one Roo stands on the porch and screams at the door until she appears....
Yes. I am Henpecked...:)
I agree, for MOST of my chickens. I have one hen that sleeps with one eye open, I think *G*. She has decided that she should sleep on the front porch, where she also has her nest (long story). After seeing a raccoon there one night, I started to bring her inside. She has a hay filled cat carrier in the guest bathroom. However, she does not appreciate my tender care! If I go out for her before full dark, she runs. If I take a flashlight, she runs. If I make too much noise (generally by stubbing my toe in the dark) she runs. So it's an adventure.
And, should I forget to let her out before her buddies get there, one Roo stands on the porch and screams at the door until she appears....
Yes. I am Henpecked...:)
catmad I had a Hen like that. She unfortunately didn't make a sound the night the fox got her. She was so spoiled she had her own water & food bowl on the porch railing.
Yeah, I sometimes wonder what "people" would think, if any actually came to visit. This hen eats from the catfood that's out for the ferals, the birdfeeder that I keep well filled, and whatever scraps I accrue throughout the day. No wonder she doesn't leave. She has three roosters that dance in attendance, an Ameracauna, a Turken and a Silkie, with two Cochins that sometimes join the bunch. She's a Turken, but seems to like all the boys.
I sometimes wkae up sure I haven't brought her in, and have to go down and check....
You are definitely well trained.
Here is our completed chicken tractor/condo. They are all together in it, all 7 of them. More space then the 2 single ones, and more breezes on the top floor.
That looks pretty nifty - plenty of ventilation and fresh grass to enjoy!
That looks pretty nifty - plenty of ventilation and fresh grass to enjoy!
